Systems and methods for monitoring and characterizing information handling system use behavior

ABSTRACT

Desktop power use behavior may be detected while a portable information handling system or any other type of battery powered information handling, system is operating on external power such as an AC adapter. The desktop power use behavior may be detected by monitoring one or more power usage parameters to detect usage characteristics that indicate a battery powered information handling system is being operated in a manner that is similar to operation of a desktop information handling system. Upon detection of desktop behavior, one or more processing devices of the information handling system may respond by taking one or more desktop use response actions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to information handling systems, andmore particularly to monitoring and characterizing information handlingsystem use behavior.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored; or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Examples of portable information handling systems include notebookcomputers. These portable electronic devices are typically powered byrechargeable battery pack systems such as lithium ion (“Li-ion”) ornickel metal hydride (“NiMH”) battery packs. Notebook computers areoften used with external AC power supplied by an AC adapter. Notebookcomputer users often operate notebook computers on external AC adapterpower for extended periods of time without removing AC power, using thebattery cells of the notebook computer in a manner similar to operationof a desktop computer on an uninterruptable power supply (UPS). Duringsuch extended times of AC adapter operation, battery cells of thebattery pack systems remain at substantially fully charged status and atan elevated temperature. Since permanent battery degradation occurs morerapidly at higher battery voltages and higher battery temperatures,extended AC adapter operation time tends to accelerate notebook computerpermanent battery degradation and therefore to shorten battery life.This results in the need to replace battery packs more often. Moreover,extended times of AC adapter operation interfere with the opportunity toperform a learning procedure to recalibrate the full charge capacity(FCC) value for the battery pack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for monitoring andcharacterizing information handling system use behavior. Using thedisclosed systems and methods, desktop power use behavior may bedetected while a portable information handling system or any other typeof battery powered information handling system is operating on externalpower such as an AC adapter. The desktop power use behavior may bedetected, for example, by a battery management unit (BMU) of a batterysystem, an embedded controller of the information handling systemitself, and/or any other processing device associated with theinformation handling system. Thus, in one exemplary embodiment, thedisclosed systems and methods may be implemented using existing hardwarecomponents of a battery-powered information handling system withoutextra cost for additional hardware, and in a further exemplaryembodiment may be implemented using a processing device (e.g., batterymanagement unit) of a battery system without requiring changes to thesystem BIOS.

Using the disclosed systems and methods, desktop power use behavior maybe detected by monitoring one or more power usage parameters to detectusage characteristics that indicate a battery powered informationhandling system is being operated in a manner that is similar tooperation of a desktop information handling system. Examples of suchusage characteristics include, but are not limited to, exceeding athreshold amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the batterypowered information handling system has been continuously operating onexternal power and/or exceeding a threshold amount of time or fractionof cumulative time that the battery relative state of charge (RSOC) hasremained above a threshold minimum RSOC value.

Upon detection of desktop behavior, one or more processing devices ofthe information handling system may respond by taking one or moredesktop use response actions, e.g., displaying a message to a user ofthe information handling system that alerts the user that desktopbehavior has been detected, giving a user the option to execute adesktop utility or other utility to correct the desktop behaviorsituation and/or initiate a battery system learning procedure,automatically running a utility to correct the desktop behaviorsituation and/or initiated a battery system learning procedure withoutuser permission, etc.

In one respect, disclosed herein is an information handling system,including: one or more processing devices; a battery system includingone or more battery cells; battery charger circuit coupled to receivecurrent from an external source and to provide current for rechargingthe battery cells of the battery system; and a system load coupled toselectably receive current from either one of an external power sourceor the battery system. The one or more processing devices of theinformation handling system may be configured to: monitor one or morepower usage parameters of the information handling system, detect usagecharacteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determinewhether or not the information handling system is being operated with apre-defined desktop power use behavior, and take one or more desktop useresponse actions if the detected usage characteristics indicate theinformation handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktoppower use behavior.

In another respect, disclosed herein is a method for operating aninformation handling system, including: providing an informationhandling system including one or more processing devices, a batterysystem including one or more battery cells, battery charger circuitcoupled to receive current from an external source and to providecurrent for recharging the battery cells of the battery system, and asystem load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of anexternal power source or the battery system; monitoring one or morepower usage parameters of the information handling system; detectingusage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters;determining whether or not the information handling system is beingoperated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior based on thedetected usage characteristics; and taking one or more desktop useresponse actions if the detected usage characteristics indicate theinformation handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktoppower use behavior.

In another respect, disclosed herein is a battery system configured tobe coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminalnode to provide current to a system load of an information handlingsystem that is separate from the battery system, the battery systemincluding: one or more battery cells; and a first processing deviceconfigured to be communicatively coupled in signal communication by atleast one terminal node with a second processing device of theinformation handling system that is separate from the battery system.The first processing device may be configured to: monitor one or morepower usage parameters of the information handling system, detect usagecharacteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determinewhether or not the information handling system is being operated with apre-defined desktop power use behavior, and inform the second processingdevice by signal communication that desktop power use behavior has beendetected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information handling system according toone exemplary embodiment of the disclosed systems and methods.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information handling system according toone exemplary embodiment of the disclosed systems and methods.

FIG. 3 illustrates relative state of charge (RSOC) versus time for abattery system of a portable information handling system.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for characterizing and responding toinformation handling system use behavior according to one exemplaryembodiment of the disclosed systems and methods.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information handling system 200 (e.g.,portable information handling system such as notebook computer, MP3player, personal data assistant (PDA), cell phone, cordless phone, etc.)as it may be configured according to one exemplary embodiment of thedisclosed systems and methods. As shown in FIG. 2, information handlingsystem 200 of this exemplary embodiment includes a processor 205 such asan Intel Pentium series processor, an Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)processor or one of many other processors currently available. Agraphics/memory controller hub (GMCH) chip 210 is coupled to processor205 to facilitate memory and display functions. System memory 215 and adisplay controller 220 are coupled to GMCH 210. A display device 225(e.g., video monitor) may be coupled to display controller 220 toprovide visual images (e.g., via graphical user interface) to the user.An I/O controller hub (ICH) chip 230 is coupled to GMCH chip 210 tofacilitate input/output functions for the information handling system.Media drives 235 are coupled to ICH chip 230 to provide permanentstorage to the information handling system. An expansion bus 240 iscoupled to ICH chip 230 to provide the information handling system withadditional plug-in functionality. Expansion bus 240 may be a PCI bus,PCI Express bus, SATA bus, USB or virtually any other expansion bus.Input devices 245 such as a keyboard and mouse are coupled to ICH chip230 to enable the user to interact with the information handling system.An embedded controller (EC) 280 running system BIOS is also coupled toICH chip 230.

In this particular embodiment, information handling system 200 iscoupled to an external source of power, namely AC mains 250 and ACadapter 255. It will be understood that external power may alternativelyprovided from any other suitable external source (e.g., external DCpower source) or that AC adapter 255 may alternatively be integratedwithin an information handling system 200 such that AC mains 250supplies AC power directly to information handling system 200. As shownAC adapter 255 is removably coupled to, and separable from, batterycharger/power circuit 260 of information handling system 200 at matinginterconnection terminals 290 and 292 in order to provide informationhandling system 200 with a source of DC power to supplement DC powerprovided by battery cells of a battery system in the form of smartbattery pack 265, e.g., lithium ion (“Li-ion”) or nickel metal hydride(“NiMH”) battery pack including one or more rechargeable batteries and aBMU that includes an analog front end (“AFE”) and microcontroller.Further, a battery system data bus (SMBus) 281 is coupled to smartbattery pack 265 to provide battery state information, such as batteryvoltage and current information, from BMU 266 of smart battery pack 265to EC 280. Battery charger/power circuit 260 of information handlingsystem 200 may also provide DC power for recharging battery cells of thebattery system 265 during charging operations.

When a battery system of a portable information handling system isoptionally provided as a replaceable battery pack, it may be configuredfor insertion and removal from a corresponding battery pack compartmentdefined within the chassis of the information handling system (e.g.,such as a notebook computer), and may be provided with external powerand data connector terminals for contacting and making interconnectionwith mating power connector terminals and data connector terminalsprovided within the battery pack compartment to provide power to thesystem load of the information handling system and to exchange data withone or more processing devices of the information handling system. Forexample, as shown for the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, replaceablesmart battery pack 265 may be removably coupled to, and is separablefrom, other system components 267 of information handling system 200 ata terminal node by engagement of system side electrical power terminals360, 394 with battery pack side electrical power terminals 362, 396(operational electrical contact). In this regard, smart battery pack 265may include battery cell circuitry 324 coupled to electrical powerterminals 362 that are configured to be removably coupled to system sideelectrical power terminals 360 so that terminals 360 contact terminals362 to allow current to be interchanged between smart battery pack 265and other system components 267 of information handling system 200.Battery cell circuitry 324 may be any type of rechargeable batterycell/s or combination thereof that is suitable for recharging. Examplesof such battery cells include, but are not limited to, Li-ion batterycells, NiMH battery cells, nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery cells,lithium-polymer (Li-polymer) battery cells, etc.

Battery pack 265 also includes SMBus terminals 352 that are configuredto be removably coupled to system side SMBus terminals 350 to allow datato be interchanged between smart battery pack 265 and EC 280. A logiccontrol circuitry 398 is also present to control and convey battery cellstatus information to BMU 266 from battery cell circuitry 324, and toconvey control signals BMU 266 to switching circuitry that is coupledbetween battery cell circuitry 324 in a manner that will be describedfurther herein. It will be understood that functions of EC 280 mayalternatively be performed by a keyboard controller in otherembodiments. Also shown in FIG. 2 are switching elements 310 and 312which are each controlled by EC 280, and which may be present toregulate current flow from charger 260 and to regulate current flow tosystem load 320, respectively. In this regard, system load 320 maycomprise system components such as display 225, processor 205, mediadrives 235, etc. of FIG. 1, and/or may include additional, fewer oralternative system components that draw current. It will be understoodthat any other number and/or type of switching elements suitable forcontrolling current flow between charger 260, system load 320 and/orbattery pack 265 may be present. Examples of types of suitable switchingelements include, but are not limited to, bipolar junction transistors(BJTs) and field effect transistors (FETs).

Smart battery pack 265 is also shown provided with battery currentcontrol circuitry to control flow of charge current to battery cellcircuitry 324 of battery pack 265, and to also control flow of dischargecurrent from battery cell circuitry 324 of battery pack 265. In thisexemplary embodiment, the charge and discharge circuitry includes twofield effect transistors (“FETs”) 380 and 382 coupled in series betweenbattery charge terminal 362 and battery cell circuitry 324. FET 380 is acharge FET switching element that forms a part of a charge circuit thatis controlled by components (e.g., microcontroller and/or AFE) of BMU266 to allow or disallow charge current to the battery cell circuitry324, and FET 382 is a discharge FET switching element that forms a partof discharge circuit that is controlled by components (e.g.,microcontroller and/or AFE) of BMU 266 to allow or disallow dischargecurrent from the battery cell circuitry 324. Body diodes may be presentacross the source and drain of each FET switching element, i.e., toconduct charge current to the battery cell/s when the discharge FETswitching element 382 is open, and to conduct discharge current from thebattery cell/s when the charge FET switching element 380 is open. Itwill be understood that battery current control circuitry of batterypack 265 may include any other number and/or type of charge anddischarge switching elements suitable for performing the current controltasks described herein. Examples of types of suitable switching elementsinclude, but are not limited to, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) andfield effect transistors (FETs).

During normal battery pack operations both charge and discharge FETswitching elements 380 and 382 are placed in the closed state by BMU266, which also monitors voltage of battery cell circuitry 324. If BMU266 detects a battery over-voltage condition, BMU 266 opens the chargeFET switching element 380 to prevent further charging of the batterycell/s until the over-voltage condition is no longer present. Similarly,if BMU 266 detects a battery under-voltage (or over-discharge)condition, BMU 266 opens the discharge FET switching element 382 toprevent further discharging of the battery cell/s until theunder-voltage condition is no longer present. BMU 266 may also open thecharge FET switching element 214 when the battery pack is in sleep mode.A current sense resistor 390 is present in the battery pack circuitry toallow BMU 266 to monitor charge current to the battery cell/s. Furtherinformation on BMU, battery pack and battery charging operations may befound in U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,819, U.S. Pat. No. 7,391,184, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/253,829 filed Oct. 17, 2008, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

It will be understood that the functions of BMU 266 described herein maybe implemented using any circuitry and/or control logic configurationsuitable for performing the tasks thereof. For example, in oneembodiment, one or more features of BMU 266 may be implemented using acontroller (e.g., processor and associated firmware) that is integral tobattery pack 265 or using any other suitable configuration ofmicrocontroller/microprocessor, firmware and/or software that interfaceswith battery pack circuitry/components. It will also be understood thatthe herein-described tasks of BMU 266 may be performed by a singleintegrated component or by two or more separate components. In addition,it will be understood that removal and reinstallation of a battery pack265 in operational electrical contact with other components 267 of theinformation handling system may be monitored using any other alternativecircuitry configuration to system-present pin 371 that is suitable forindication thereof. Furthermore, it will be understood that theparticular configuration of components in FIGS. 1 and 2 is exemplaryonly and that other configurations of fewer, additional and/oralternative components are possible as are appropriate for a givenparticular type of battery-powered portable information handling system.It will also be understood that, when present, processing devices (suchas EC 280 and BMU 266) may be communicatively coupled in signalcommunication with each other using any type of data communication busor other type of signal communication technology suitable fortransferring data therebetween.

FIG. 3 is a plot of relative state of charge (RSOC) versus time for abattery system of a portable information handling system, such asreplaceable battery pack 265 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The circled area ofRegion A of FIG. 3 exhibits usage characteristics of desktop power usebehavior as it may be defined in one exemplary embodiment of thedisclosed systems and methods. As shown, the RSOC of the battery systemcycles between 100% RSOC and 95% RSOC for a time duration “x”, which maybe an extended period of time such as several days or weeks. Timeduration “x” may represent, for example, a time during which an ACadapter has been continuously coupled to power the information handlingsystem, and during which the battery cells repeatedly self dischargefollowed by recharge. It is during such a time that the battery systemremains substantially fully charged and at an elevated temperature,conditions under which battery degradation occurs more rapidly. Theusage characteristics of Region A are the type of characteristics thatare to be avoided by using the disclosed systems and methods. Incontrast, normal battery-powered information handling system usebehavior may be characterized in one embodiment by frequent relativelylong charge and long discharge cycles, and long self-discharge cycles.For example, during normal battery-powered information handling systemuse, the battery system may frequently drop below 80% RSOC, and may beoften substantially fully discharged or near fully discharged, e.g., tobelow about 10% RSOC.

Region B of FIG. 3 is an example of a learning procedure for a batterysystem of a portable information handling system, such as replaceablebattery pack 265 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Such a learning procedure may beemployed periodically to update the full charge capacity (FCC) value aspermanent degradation occurs over time, including percent degradationthat occurs due to desktop behavior of Region A. This updated value ofFCC may be used, for example, by BMU 266 to calculate more accurateestimates of remaining battery life for display to a user, or for use byinternal system processor to determine at what point to shut down theinformation handling system before insufficient battery charge remainsfor proper shut down. In the learning procedure of FIG. 3, the batterysystem discharges from about 100% RSOC at point (1) to about at learningpoint (2), before the battery cells are recharged as shown (e.g., tojust under about 95% RSOC). A learning point (2) may be any suitably lowvalue of RSOC to allow calculation of FCC, and is about 7% RSOC in FIG.3. Normally, a user must remember to allow the battery system todischarge to the learning point to trigger the FCC recalibration.However, in one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, upon detection ofdesktop behavior such as illustrated in Region A (e.g., by BMU 266), auser may be prompted to perform the learning procedure of Region B orsuch a learning procedure may be automatically performed by one or moreprocessors of the information handling system.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for characterizing and responding toinformation handling system use behavior according to one exemplaryembodiment of the disclosed systems and methods. In this regard, method400 will be described below as it may be implemented by portableinformation handling system 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2 using BMU 266, althoughthe general methodology of method 400 may be implemented by any one ormore processing devices on any other suitable configuration ofinformation handling system that is selectably and/or alternativelypowered by external power and one or more battery cells. Furthermore, itwill be understood that one or more steps of method 400 may beimplemented other processing device/s of information handling system 200(e.g., such as embedded controller 280 and/or processor 205).

As shown in FIG. 4, method 400 starts at step 402 where BMU 266 of smartbattery system 265 begins monitoring one or more power usage parametersof information handling system 200 in order to detect and characterizethe current operation behavior, e.g., to determine if the monitoredpower usage parameters are characteristic or indicative of the fact thata user is operating battery powered information handling system 200 in amanner that is similar to operating a desktop information handlingsystem. Examples of possible power usage parameters include, but are notlimited to, presence of external power of AC adapter 255 supplied tobattery powered information handling system 200, battery system relativestate of charge (RSOC), or any other parameter that may be monitored todetermine the amount of time that information handling system 200 iscontinuously operated on external power rather than battery power, or todetermine the cumulative fraction of time within a given time period(e.g., percentage of time) that information handling system 200 isoperated on external power rather than battery power. To make thisdetermination, BMU 266 may determine, for example, if the amount of timethat battery powered portable information handling system 200 has beencontinuously operating on external power of AC adapter 255 has exceededa predefined threshold external power operating time and/or if theamount of time that battery powered portable information handling system200 has been continuously operating with a battery relative state ofcharge (RSOC) above a threshold minimum RSOC value has exceeded apredefined threshold high RSOC operating time.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, presence of external power of ACadapter 255 supplied to battery powered information handling system 200is monitored. Based on the monitored usage parameter/s, BMU 266characterizes the current operation behavior and alerts embeddedcontroller (EC) 280 (e.g., via data communicated across SMBus 281) ofdetected desktop power use behavior. The system BIOS running on EC 280may then take appropriate predefined action in response thereto based onthe type of current operating behavior detected in a manner as will bedescribed further herein. In other embodiments BMU 266 may alsooptionally notify EC 280 that detected behavior is not desktop userbehavior (e.g., if step 404 or 414 state is “NO”), and/or that externalpower or battery has been removed (e.g., if step 410 state is “YES”),for example, so that EC 280 may be aware of the current status ofoperation and inform a user thereof.

Referring now to step 404 of FIG. 4, BMU 266 determines if externalpower of AC adapter 255 is currently powering information handlingsystem 200. If external power is not present (e.g., information handlingsystem is operating on power supplied by smart battery pack 265), thenmethod 400 returns to step 402 and starts again. However, if in step 404BMU 266 determines that information handling system 200 is being poweredby external power of AC adapter 255, then method 400 proceeds to step406 where a timer is started. Method 400 then proceeds to step 408 whereBMU 266 determines if the current timer value (i.e., elapsed time sincetimer was started in step 406) exceeds a threshold amount of time thatthe battery powered information handling system has been continuouslyoperating on external power, i.e., indicating desktop power usebehavior. The value of such an external power threshold amount of timemay be selected, for example, based on factors such as battery packcapacity. For example, an external power threshold time may bepredefined to be about 720 hours in one exemplary embodiment for a 3S1PLi-ion type battery, it being understood that this external powerthreshold time is given only as an example for illustration purposes andthat greater or lesser external power threshold times may be employed.Moreover, in one exemplary embodiment such a threshold value may bedetermined, for example, by empirical measurement of the same batterysystem configuration to determine optimum or preferred external poweroperating time value for definition of desktop power use behavior. Inanother exemplary embodiment, such a threshold value may be configurableto allow changes, e.g., at time of system fabrication and/or later by auser.

If the timer value is found in step 408 to have exceeded the externalpower threshold value, then method 400 proceeds to step 409 where BMU266 sets a desktop use flag and then proceeds to step 410. If the timervalue is found in step 408 to not exceed the external power thresholdvalue, the method 400 proceeds to step 410 without setting a desktop useflag. In step 410, BMU 266 determines if either the external power of ACadapter 255 and/or battery system 265 have been removed (i.e.,electrically uncoupled) from portable information handling system 200.If it is determined in step 410 that external power 255 and/or batterysystem 265 have been removed, then method 400 proceeds to step 412 whereany desktop use flag present is cleared, and the timer is reset orstopped before method 400 returns to step 402 and restarts. However, ifit is determined in step 410 that neither external power 255 or batterysystem 265 have been removed, then method 400 proceeds from step 410 tostep 414 where BMU 266 determines if a desktop use flag is present(i.e., as set in step 409), indicating the occurrence of desktop poweruse behavior. If so, then BMU 266 initiates one or more desktop useresponse actions (as described further herein) in step 416 beforereturning to step 402 where method 400 starts again. If no desktop useflag is found present in step 416 then normal notebook power usebehavior is indicated and no response action is taken. Method 400 thenreturns to step 408 where BMU 266 again determines if the current timervalue exceeds an external power threshold amount of time that thebattery powered information handling system has been continuouslyoperating on external power, and methodology 400 proceeds again asbefore.

It will be understood that the particular illustrated steps of method400 are exemplary only, and that any other combination of additionaland/or alternative steps may be employed that are suitable formonitoring, characterizing and responding to information handling systemuse behavior in a manner as described herein. For example, any othermethodology may be employed for monitoring and determining whetherbattery powered information handling system 265 has been continuouslyoperating on external AC power adapter for a time that exceeds aselected external power threshold amount of time to indicate desktoppower use behavior. As another example, relative state of charge (RSOC)of battery system 265 may be additionally or alternatively monitored byBMU 266 or any other suitable processing device/s of battery system 265or information handling system 200 to determine if the RSOC hascontinuously remained above a threshold minimum RSOC value for athreshold amount of time to indicate desktop power use behavior. Forexample, in one exemplary embodiment a threshold RSOC operating time maybe predefined as about 720 hours, and a corresponding minimum thresholdRSOC value may be predefined as about 95%. However, it will beunderstood that these values are exemplary only and that greater orlesser predefined values of threshold RSOC operating time, and/orthreshold minimum RSOC value may be employed.

It will also be understood that other operating characteristics may bedetected that are indicative of desktop power usage. For example, BMU266 may determine if the fraction of a given time period (e.g., as agiven percentage of cumulative operating time during the time period)that battery powered portable information handling system 200 has beenoperating on external power has exceeded a predefined threshold externalpower fractional operating time, and/or if the fraction of a given timeperiod that battery powered portable information handling system 200 hasbeen operating with a battery relative state of charge (RSOC) above athreshold minimum RSOC value has exceeded a predefined threshold highRSOC fractional operating time.

As described above, one or more desktop use response actions may betaken in step 416 of FIG. 4 upon determination that information handlingsystem 200 is currently being operated in a manner characterized asdesktop power use behavior. Such response actions may address thedesktop power use behavior in a passive and/or active manner. Forexample, BMU 266 may inform embedded controller (EC) 280 and/orprocessor 205 by signal communication across SMBus 281 that desktoppower use behavior has been detected. EC 280 running system BIOS and/orprocessor 205 may respond to this communication by displaying a passivemessage to a user of the information handling system that alerts theuser that desktop behavior has been detected, and may optionally providethe user information with information on steps that may be taken toprotect and extend battery life, e.g., by removing external AC powerwhen information handling system 200 is not in use, by turninginformation handling system 200 off during long periods of non-use, byperiodically discharging battery system 265 to perform the learningprocedure of Region B of FIG. 3, etc. In another exemplary embodiment, auser may be given the option to run a desktop battery-conditioningutility that takes control of power management of information handlingsystem 200 to perform the learning procedure of Region B of FIG. 3 orother battery discharge profile suitable for protecting battery cells324 of battery system 265 from desktop power use behavior damage, e.g.,while at the same time continuously providing power to allow use ofinformation handling system 200. Such a passive response action relieson the user to take the necessary steps to protect the battery system265.

Alternatively or additionally, system BIOS of EC 280 (and/or othersuitable processing device/s of information handling system 200 such asprocessor 205) may take one or more active response actions uponnotification that desktop power use behavior has been detected withoutrequiring permission of the user. For example, a battery-conditioningutility may be automatically run without user permission that takescontrol of power management of information handling system 200 toperform the learning procedure of Region B of FIG. 3 or other batterydischarge profile suitable for protecting battery cells 324 of batterysystem 265 from desktop power use behavior damage, e.g., while at thesame time continuously providing power to allow use of informationhandling system 200. A user may be optionally notified that the utilityis running or it may run in the background without the knowledge of theuser.

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system mayinclude any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operableto compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, aconsumer electronic device, a network storage device, or any othersuitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality,and price. The information handling system may include memory, one ormore processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) orhardware or software control logic. Additional components of theinformation handling system may include one or more storage devices, oneor more communications ports for communicating with external devices aswell as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, amouse, and a video display. The information handling system may alsoinclude one or more buses operable to transmit communications betweenthe various hardware components.

It will also be understood that one or more of the tasks, functions, ormethodologies described herein (e.g., for BMU 266, EC 280, processor 205or other suitable processing device) may be implemented, for example, asfirmware or other computer program of instructions embodied in anon-transitory tangible computer readable medium that is executed by aCPU, controller, microcontroller, processor, microprocessor, FPGA, ASIC,or other suitable processing device. Further, although replaceable smartbattery packs are described in relation to some of the embodimentsherein, it will be understood that the disclosed systems and methods maybe implemented with battery systems that are non-replaceable and/or withbattery systems controlled by external processing device/s.

While the invention may be adaptable to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample and described herein. However, it should be understood that theinvention is not intended to be limited to the particular formsdisclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the differentaspects of the disclosed systems and methods may be utilized in variouscombinations and/or independently. Thus the invention is not limited toonly those combinations shown herein, but rather may include othercombinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system, comprising: oneor more processing devices; a battery system including one or morebattery cells; battery charger circuit coupled to receive current froman external source and to provide current for recharging the batterycells of the battery system; and a system load coupled to selectablyreceive current from either one of an external power source or thebattery system; where the one or more processing devices are configuredto: monitor one or more power usage parameters of the informationhandling system, detect usage characteristics from the monitored powerusage parameters to determine whether or not the information handlingsystem is being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behaviorthat is caused by operation of the information handling system onexternal power from the external power source rather than only powerfrom the battery system, and take one or more desktop use responseactions based on a determination that the detected usage characteristicsindicate the information handling system is being operated with thepre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation ofthe information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system; where theone or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the battery systemrelative state of charge (RSOC); and where the one or more processingdevices are configured to take the one or more desktop use responseactions only if it is determined that the monitored battery relativestate of charge (RSOC) has remained above a threshold minimum RSOC valuefor a threshold amount of time or threshold fraction of cumulative time.2. The system of claim 1, where the pre-defined desktop power usebehavior comprises operating the information handling system on externalAC adapter power for a period of time without removing the AC power in amanner of operation of a desktop computer operating on anuninterruptable power supply (UPS).
 3. The system of claim 1, where theone or more power usage parameters further comprise presence of externalpower supplied to powered information handling system rather than onlypower supplied from the battery system.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherethe one or more monitored power usage parameters further comprisepresence of external power supplied to powered information handlingsystem rather than only power supplied from the battery system; andwhere the one or more processing devices are configured to take the oneor more desktop use response actions only if a combination of thefollowing conditions is determined to exist: a threshold amount of timeor threshold fraction of cumulative time that the battery poweredinformation handling system has been continuously operating on externalpower rather than only on battery power from the battery system has beendetermined to be exceeded, and the threshold amount of time or fractionof cumulative time that the battery relative state of charge (RSOC) hasremained above the threshold minimum RSOC value has been determined tobe exceeded.
 5. The system of claim 1, where the one or more desktop useresponse actions comprise at least one of displaying a passive messageto a user of the information handling system that alerts the user thatdesktop use behavior has been detected, automatically running a batteryconditioning utility, or a combination thereof.
 6. The system of claim1, where the one or more processing devices comprise a batterymanagement unit (BMU) communicatively coupled in signal communicationwith an embedded controller (EC); where the BMU is configured to monitorone or more power usage parameters of the information handling system,detect usage characteristics from the monitored power usage parametersto determine whether or not the information handling system is beingoperated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is causedby operation of the information handling system on external power fromthe external power source rather than only power from the batterysystem, and inform the EC by signal communication that desktop power usebehavior has been detected; and where the EC is configured to take theone or more desktop use response actions when informed by the BMU thatdesktop power use behavior has been detected.
 7. The system of claim 1,where the battery system comprises a replaceable battery pack that isoperably separable from the system load of the information handlingsystem, the battery system being coupled in operational electricalcontact by at least one terminal node to provide current to the systemload across the terminal node.
 8. The system of claim 7, where thebattery system comprises a smart battery pack that includes at least oneprocessing device.
 9. The system of claim 1, where the informationhandling system is a notebook computer.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherethe one or more processing devices are configured to take the one ormore desktop use response actions only if external power is present tosupply power to the information handling system.
 11. The system of claim1, where the one or more processing devices are configured to take theone or more desktop use response actions only if external power from ACmains and an AC adapter is present to supply power to the informationhandling system.
 12. The system of claim 1, where the one or moremonitored power usage parameters further comprise the monitored presenceof external power supplied to powered information handling system ratherthan only power supplied from the battery system; and where the usagecharacteristics that indicate the information handling system is beingoperated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior compriseexceeding a threshold amount of time during which an AC adapter has beencontinuously coupled to power the information handling system, andduring which the battery cells repeatedly self-discharge followed byrecharge.
 13. The system of claim 1, where the one or more desktop useresponse actions comprise initiating a battery system learning procedureto discharge the battery cells of the battery system to a pre-definedlearning point and then recharging the battery cells of the batterysystem to calculate an updated full charge capacity (FCC) of the batterysystem.
 14. The system of claim 1, where the one or more desktop useresponse actions comprise displaying a passive message to a user of theinformation handling system that provides the user with information onat least one step that may be taken by the user to protect and extendbattery life; and where the step provided by the information of themessage comprises at least one of removing external AC power when theinformation handling system is not in use, turning the informationhandling system off during long periods of non-use, periodicallydischarging the battery system to perform a learning procedure, or acombination thereof.
 15. The system of claim 1, where the pre-defineddesktop power use behavior comprises operating the information handlingsystem on external AC adapter power for a period of time during whichthe battery system remains substantially fully charged.
 16. The systemof claim 1, where the one or more processing devices are configured totake one or more desktop use response actions only if the detected usagecharacteristics are determined to indicate that the information handlingsystem is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behaviorthat is caused by operation of the information handling system onexternal power from the external power source rather than only powerfrom the battery system; and not to take the one or more desktop useresponse action if the detected usage characteristics are determined notto indicate the information handling system is being operated with thepre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation ofthe information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system.
 17. Amethod for operating an information handling system, comprising:providing an information handling system including one or moreprocessing devices, a battery system including one or more batterycells, battery charger circuit coupled to receive current from anexternal source and to provide current for recharging the battery cellsof the battery system, and a system load coupled to selectably receivecurrent from either one of an external power source or the batterysystem; monitoring one or more power usage parameters of the informationhandling system, the one or more monitored power usage parameterscomprising the battery system relative state of charge (RSOC); detectingusage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters;determining whether or not the information handling system is beingoperated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused byoperation of the information handling system on external power from theexternal power source rather than only power from the battery systembased on the detected usage characteristics; and taking one or moredesktop use response actions based on a determination that the detectedusage characteristics indicate the information handling system is beingoperated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is causedby operation of the information handling system on external power fromthe external power source rather than only power from the battery systemand only if it is determined that the monitored battery relative stateof charge (RSOC) has remained above a threshold minimum RSOC value for athreshold amount of time or threshold fraction of cumulative time. 18.The method of claim 17, where the one or more power usage parametersfurther comprise presence of external power supplied to poweredinformation handling system rather than only power supplied from thebattery system.
 19. The method of claim 17, where the one or moremonitored power usage parameters further comprise presence of externalpower supplied to powered information handling system rather than onlypower supplied from the battery system; and where the method furthercomprises taking the one or more desktop use response actions only if acombination of the following conditions is determined to exist: athreshold amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that the batterypowered information handling system has been continuously operating onexternal power rather than only power from the battery system isdetermined to have been exceeded, and the threshold amount of time orfraction of cumulative time that the battery relative state of charge(RSOC) has remained above the threshold minimum RSOC value has beendetermined to be exceeded.
 20. The method of claim 17, where the one ormore desktop use response actions comprise at least one of displaying apassive message to a user of the information handling system that alertsthe user that desktop use behavior has been detected, automaticallyrunning a battery conditioning utility, or a combination thereof. 21.The method of claim 17, where the one or more processing devicescomprise a battery management unit (BMU) communicatively coupled insignal communication with an embedded controller (EC); and where themethod further comprises: using the BMU to monitor one or more powerusage parameters of the information handling system, detect usagecharacteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determinewhether or not the information handling system is being operated withthe pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operationof the information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system, and informthe EC by signal communication that desktop power use behavior has beendetected; and using the EC to take the one or more desktop use responseactions when informed by the BMU that desktop power use behavior hasbeen detected.
 22. The method of claim 17, where the battery systemcomprises a replaceable battery pack that is operably separable from thesystem load of the information handling system, the battery system beingcoupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminal nodeto provide current to the system load across the terminal node.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, where the battery system comprises a smart batterypack that includes at least one processing device.
 24. The method ofclaim 17, where the information handling system is a notebook computer.25. The method of claim 17, further comprising taking the one or moredesktop use response actions only if external power is present to supplypower to the information handling system.
 26. The method of claim 17,further comprising taking the one or more desktop use response actionsonly if external power from AC mains and an AC adapter is present tosupply power to the information handling system.
 27. The method of claim17, where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprise themonitored presence of external power supplied to powered informationhandling system rather than only power supplied from the battery system;and where the usage characteristics that indicate the informationhandling system is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power usebehavior comprise exceeding a threshold amount of time during which anAC adapter has been continuously coupled to power the informationhandling system, and during which the battery cells repeatedlyself-discharge followed by recharge.
 28. The method of claim 17, wherethe one or more desktop use response actions comprise initiating abattery system learning procedure to discharge the battery cells of thebattery system to a pre-defined learning point and then recharging thebattery cells of the battery system to calculate an updated full chargecapacity (FCC) of the battery system.
 29. The method of claim 17, wherethe one or more desktop use response actions comprise at least one ofdisplaying a passive message to a user of the information handlingsystem that alerts the user to remove external AC power when theinformation handling system is not in use, turn the information handlingsystem off during long periods of non-use, periodically discharge thebattery system to perform a learning procedure, or a combinationthereof.
 30. The method of claim 17, where the pre-defined desktop poweruse behavior comprises operating the information handling system onexternal AC adapter power for a period of time without removing the ACpower in a manner of operation of a desktop computer operating on anuninterruptable power supply (UPS).
 31. A battery system configured tobe coupled in operational electrical contact by at least one terminalnode to provide current to a system load of an information handlingsystem that is separate from the battery system, the battery systemcomprising: one or more battery cells; and a first processing deviceconfigured to be communicatively coupled in signal communication by atleast one terminal node with a second processing device of theinformation handling system that is separate from the battery system;where the first processing device is configured to: monitor one or morepower usage parameters of the information handling system, detect usagecharacteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determinewhether or not the information handling system is being operated with apre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation ofthe information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system, and informthe second processing device by signal communication that desktop poweruse behavior has been detected based on a determination that theinformation handling system is being operated with the pre-defineddesktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of theinformation handling system on external power from the external powersource rather than only power from the battery system; where the one ormore monitored power usage parameters comprise the battery systemrelative state of charge (RSOC); and where the one or more processingdevices are configured to take the one or more desktop use responseactions only if it is determined that the monitored battery relativestate of charge (RSOC) has remained above a threshold minimum RSOC valuefor a threshold amount of time or threshold fraction of cumulative time.32. The battery system of claim 31, where the one or more power usageparameters further comprise presence of external power supplied topowered information handling system.
 33. The battery system of claim 31,where the battery system is a replaceable smart battery pack; where thefirst processing device comprise a battery management unit (BMU); andwhere the BMU is configured to monitor one or more power usageparameters of the information handling system, detect usagecharacteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determinewhether or not the information handling system is being operated withthe pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operationof the information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system, and informthe second processing device by signal communication that desktop poweruse behavior has been detected.
 34. The battery system of claim 31,where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprises operating theinformation handling system on external AC adapter power for a period oftime without removing the AC power in a manner of operation of a desktopcomputer operating on an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).
 35. Aninformation handling system, comprising: one or more processing devices;a battery system including one or more battery cells; battery chargercircuit coupled to receive current from an external source and toprovide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system;and a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either oneof an external power source or the battery system; where the one or moreprocessing devices are configured to: monitor one or more power usageparameters of the information handling system, detect usagecharacteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determinewhether or not the information handling system is being operated with apre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation ofthe information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system, and takeone or more desktop use response actions if the detected usagecharacteristics indicate the information handling system is beingoperated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is causedby operation of the information handling system on external power fromthe external power source rather than only power from the batterysystem; where the one or more monitored power usage parameters comprisethe presence of external power supplied to powered information handlingsystem rather than only power from the battery system; where the usagecharacteristics that indicate the information handling system is beingoperated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior compriseexceeding a threshold value for the amount of time or fraction ofcumulative time that the battery powered information handling system hasbeen continuously operating on external power rather than only onbattery power from the battery system; and where the threshold value ofamount of time or fraction of cumulative time is determined by empiricalmeasurement of the same battery system configuration to determineoptimum or preferred external power operating time value.
 36. A methodfor operating an information handling system, comprising: providing aninformation handling system including one or more processing devices, abattery system including one or more battery cells, battery chargercircuit coupled to receive current from an external source and toprovide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system,and a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either oneof an external power source or the battery system; monitoring one ormore power usage parameters of the information handling system;detecting usage characteristics from the monitored power usageparameters; determining whether or not the information handling systemis being operated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that iscaused by operation of the information handling system on external powerfrom the external power source rather than only power from the batterysystem based on the detected usage characteristics; and taking one ormore desktop use response actions if the detected usage characteristicsindicate the information handling system is being operated with thepre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation ofthe information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system; where theone or more monitored power usage parameters comprise the presence ofexternal power supplied to powered information handling system ratherthan only power from the battery system; where the usage characteristicsthat indicate the information handling system is being operated with thepre-defined desktop power use behavior comprise exceeding a thresholdvalue for the amount of time or fraction of cumulative time that thebattery powered information handling system has been continuouslyoperating on external power rather than only on battery power from thebattery system; and where the threshold value of amount of time orfraction of cumulative time is determined by empirical measurement ofthe same battery system configuration to determine optimum or preferredexternal power operating time value.
 37. An information handling system,comprising: one or more processing devices; a battery system includingone or more battery cells; battery charger circuit coupled to receivecurrent from an external source and to provide current for rechargingthe battery cells of the battery system; and a system load coupled toselectably receive current from either one of an external power sourceor the battery system; where the one or more processing devices areconfigured to: monitor one or more power usage parameters of theinformation handling system, detect usage characteristics from themonitored power usage parameters to determine whether or not theinformation handling system is being operated with a pre-defined desktoppower use behavior that is caused by operation of the informationhandling system on external power from the external power source ratherthan only power from the battery system, and take one or more desktopuse response actions based on a determination that the detected usagecharacteristics indicate the information handling system is beingoperated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is causedby operation of the information handling system on external power fromthe external power source rather than only power from the batterysystem; where the pre-defined desktop power use behavior comprisesoperating the information handling system on external AC adapter powerfor a period of time without removing the AC power in a manner ofoperation of a desktop computer operating on an uninterruptable powersupply (UPS); and where the one or more monitored power usage parameterscomprise the presence of external power supplied to powered informationhandling system rather than only power from the battery system; wherethe usage characteristics that indicate the information handling systemis being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behaviorcomprise exceeding a threshold value for the amount of time or fractionof cumulative time that the battery powered information handling systemhas been continuously operating on external power rather than only onbattery power from the battery system; and where the threshold value ofamount of time or fraction of cumulative time is determined by empiricalmeasurement of the same battery system configuration to determineoptimum or preferred external power operating time value.
 38. Aninformation handling system, comprising: one or more processing devices;a battery system including one or more battery cells; battery chargercircuit coupled to receive current from an external source and toprovide current for recharging the battery cells of the battery system;and a system load coupled to selectably receive current from either oneof an external power source or the battery system; where the one or moreprocessing devices are configured to: monitor one or more power usageparameters of the information handling system, detect usagecharacteristics from the monitored power usage parameters to determinewhether or not the information handling system is being operated with apre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation ofthe information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system, and takeone or more desktop use response actions based on a determination thatthe detected usage characteristics indicate the information handlingsystem is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behaviorthat is caused by operation of the information handling system onexternal power from the external power source rather than only powerfrom the battery system; where the pre-defined desktop power usebehavior comprises operating the information handling system on externalAC adapter power for a defined period of time without removing the ACpower in a manner of operation of a desktop computer operating on anuninterruptable power supply (UPS); where the one or more processingdevices are configured to take one or more desktop use response actionsonly if the detected usage characteristics are determined to indicatethat the information handling system is being operated with thepre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused by operation ofthe information handling system on external power from the externalpower source rather than only power from the battery system; and not totake the one or more desktop use response action if the detected usagecharacteristics are determined not to indicate the information handlingsystem is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behaviorthat is caused by operation of the information handling system onexternal power from the external power source rather than only powerfrom the battery system; where the one or more processing devices areconfigured to: set a desktop use flag only if the detected usagecharacteristics are determined to indicate the information handlingsystem is being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behaviorthat is caused by operation of the information handling system onexternal power from the external power source rather than only powerfrom the battery system; and not to set the desktop use flag if thedetected usage characteristics are determined not to indicate theinformation handling system is being operated with the pre-defineddesktop power use behavior that is caused by operation of theinformation handling system on external power from the external powersource rather than only power from the battery system, clear the desktopuse flag upon detection of the removal of either the external power orthe battery cells of the battery system, and then take the one or moredesktop use response actions only upon detection of the presence of apreviously set desktop use flag.
 39. A method for operating aninformation handling system, comprising: providing an informationhandling system including one or more processing devices, a batterysystem including one or more battery cells, battery charger circuitcoupled to receive current from an external source and to providecurrent for recharging the battery cells of the battery system, and asystem load coupled to selectably receive current from either one of anexternal power source or the battery system; monitoring one or morepower usage parameters of the information handling system; detectingusage characteristics from the monitored power usage parameters;determining whether or not the information handling system is beingoperated with a pre-defined desktop power use behavior that is caused byoperation of the information handling system on external power from theexternal power source rather than only power from the battery systembased on the detected usage characteristics; and taking one or moredesktop use response actions based on a determination that if thedetected usage characteristics indicate the information handling systemis being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behavior thatis caused by operation of the information handling system on externalpower from the external power source rather than only power from thebattery system; where the one or more monitored power usage parameterscomprise the presence of external power supplied to powered informationhandling system rather than only power from the battery system; wherethe usage characteristics that indicate the information handling systemis being operated with the pre-defined desktop power use behaviorcomprise exceeding a threshold value for the amount of time or fractionof cumulative time that the battery powered information handling systemhas been continuously operating on external power rather than only onbattery power from the battery system; and where the threshold value ofamount of time or fraction of cumulative time is determined by empiricalmeasurement of the same battery system configuration to determineoptimum or preferred external power operating time value.